Snap action method of securing a hose fitting to a hose end



Sept. 17, 1968 J. o. KNIGHT 3,401,447

SNAP ACTION METHOD OF SECURING A HOSE FITTING TO A HOSE END OriginalFiled May 1, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /Z 6 9 V/7//////////, V 1 M INVENTORATTORNEY p 1968 J. o. KNIGHT 3,401,447

SNAP ACTION METHOD OF SECURING A HOSE FITTING TO A HOSE END OriginalFiled May 1, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iii/111 1; 20

viii/7i!) INVENTOR B Y wza w M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,401,447SNAP ACTION METHOD OF SECURING A HOSE FITTING TO A HOSE END James 0.Knight, Peoria, Ill., assignor to L. R. Nelson Mfg. Co., Inc., Peoria,111., a corporation of Illinois Original application May 1, 1964, Ser.No. 364,182, now Patent No. 3,262,721, dated July 26, 1966. Divided andthis application May 20, 1966, Ser. No. 551,649

2 Claims. (Cl. 29-450) This application constitutes a division of mycopending application, Ser. No. 364,182, filed May 1,1964, entitled,Sn-ap Action Hose Fitting, which, issued July 26, 1966, as Patent No.3,262,721.

This invention relates to the securement of hose fittings to hose endsand more particularly to an improved method of securing a hose fittingof the type which is made either entirely of plastic or includes one ormore major plastic components to a hose end.

The provision of an effective hose fitting which embodies one or moremajor plastic components is regarded by the industry to be highlydesirable. However, for a consider-able period of time the industry hasnot fully accepted any of the plastic component hose fittings which havebeen commercially offered. In the past, these fittings have presentedproblems of performance which appear to have created a resistance to theacceptance of any hose fitting embodying m ajor plastic components.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an effective methodof securing to a hose end a hose fitting embodying at least one majorcomponent which is made of plastic material in which the other majorcomponents may also be made of plastic material.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a method ofthe type described which utilizes the elastic properties of the hosefitting to eifectively secure the hose fitting components on the hoseend with a snap action.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of animproved method for efifecting the securement of the hose fitting to thehose end which is simple and effective in operation and economical toperform.

These and other objects of the present invention will become moreapparent during the course of the following detailed description andappended claims.

The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein an illustrative embodiment is shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, illustratingthe initial step in securing a hose fitting on the end of a hose inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of a female hose fitting showingthe same in secured engagement on the end of a hose in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating a male hose fittingin secured engagement on the end of a hose in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating a second stage inthe securement of the hose fitting to the hose end;

FIGURE 5 is 'a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating a third stage inthe securement of the hose fitting to the hose end; and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating a fourth stage inthe securement of the hose fitting to the hose end.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 2, there is shown therein afemale hose fitting, generally indicated at 10, secured or operativelyattached to the end of a hose, generally indicated at 12, in accordancewith the principles of the present invention.

The female hose fitting 10 includes three major components: one, anouter sleeve 14; two, an inner tubular member 16; and three, a fittingsleeve 18. The outer sleeve is made of a material which is capable of arelatively great deflection or deformation within the elastic limit ofthe material. A preferred material is a linear, high molecular Weight,stable, mold-able, homopolymeric, oxyrnethylene, for example, asdescribed in MacDonald Patent No. 2,768,994. 'Polycarbonates may also beused to good advantage. The preferred materials are availablecommercially under the trademarks Delrin and Celcon.

As shown, the outer sleeve 14 comprises essentially a cylindrical memberhaving its inner peripheral surface interrupted and an annular flange 20extending radially inwardly from one end thereof. As best shown in FIG-URE 1, the interrupted interior peripheral surface of the sleeve 14 ispreferably in the form of a helical ridge 22. The ridge is formed by apair of angularly related surfaces as, for example, which define attheir juncture a sharp helical edge 24 facing in the direction of theflange 20. Preferably, in the example given above, the interiorperipheral surface defining the ridge 22 is disposed at an angle ofapproximately 15 with respect to the axis of the sleeve whereas theother surface is disposed at approximately or extends radially withrespect to the axis of the sleeve. Further, in the example shown in thedrawings and described above, a helical groove 26 is formed adjacent theradial surface of the annular ridge which defines the sharp edge 24.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the interior peripheral size of the interruptedsurface provided by the ridge 22 is such as to receive and engage overthe outer peripheral surface of the end of the hose 12. As shown, theinterior peripheral diameter of the sleeve is approximately equal to theexterior diameter size of the hose, although it will be understood thatthe hose may be slightly oversize or undersize with respect to thesleeve. The flange 20 is adapted to engage the outer extremity or edgeof the hose end and the interior peripheral diameter size of the flangeis less than the outer peripheral diameter size of the hose and greaterthan the interior peripheral diameter size of the hose.

The inner tubular member 16 and fitting sleeve 18 are likewisepreferably made of a plastic material such as Delrin or Celcon; however,they can be also made of other plastic materials as well as metallicmaterials. The inner tubular member 16 is provided with a flow passage28 which extends completely therethrough, the diameter size of thepassage being slightly less than the interior diameter size of the hose12. At one end of the inner tubular member 16 there is included a firstouter peripheral portion in the form of a tapering surface 30specifically of fr-usto-conical configuration. The outer extremity ofthe tapering surface 30 preferably has a diameter size less than theinterior diameter size of the hose 12. From its outer extremity, thetapering surface 30 diverges inwardly and terminates in a diameter sizegreater than the interior diameter size of the hose and generally equalto or slightly less than the interior diameter size of the flange 20.

Theinner tubular member 16 includes a second outer peripheral portion inthe form of an interrupted surface specifically provided by a pluralityof contiguous annular ridges 32. As shown, each annular ridge is formedby a pair of intersecting angularly related surfaces as, for example,approximately 75". As shown, one of the surfaces is disposed at an angleof approximately 15 with respect to the axis of the tubular member 16while the other surface is disposed at an angle of approximately 90 orextends'radially with respect to the axis of the tubular member. Thesurfaces forming the annular ridges 32 thus define sharp annular edgeswhich face in a direction opposed to the tapering surface 30. It will benoted that the second outer peripheral portion defined by the ridges 32is adjacent to the first outer peripheral portion defined by the surfaceand that the diameter size of the ridges 32 is approximately equal tothe large diameter size of the tapering surface 30. Thus, the ridges areof a diameter size greater than the interior diameter size of the hosebut generally equal to or slightly less than the interior diameter sizeof the flange 20.

The tubular member 16 also includes a third outer peripheral portionformed by a tapering surface 34 specifically of frusto-conicalconfiguration. As shown, the end of the surface 34 is adjacent the ridge32 remote from the tapering surface 30 and has a diameter size which isless than the diameter size of the interior periphery of the flange 20.The tapering surface 34 diverges in a direction away from the ridges 32and terminates in a diameter size which is greater than the interiordiameter size of the flange 20.

The inner tubular member 16 includes a fourth outer peripheral portionwhich is formed by a peripheral surface 36 and an abutment surface 38extending transversely between the peripheral surface 36 and theadjacent end of the tapering surface 34. The peripheral surface 38 is ofa diameter size to receive the flange 20.

Finally, the inner tubular member 16 includes a fifth outer peripheralportion which, in the case of the female fitting now being described, isin the form of a stepped surface 40. The first step of the surface 40defines with the surfaces 36 and 38 an annular locking groove whichreceives the flange 20 of the outer sleeve. The second step defines withthe outer portion of the flange 20 of the sleeve 14 an annular groove,of a diameter size greater than the diameter size of the flangereceiving groove, which is adapted to swivelly or rotatably receive anannular flange 42 extending radially inwardly from one end of thefitting sleeve 18. As shown, the interior periphery of the fittingsleeve 18 is provided with conventional screw threads 44.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 3, there is shown therein amale fitting, generally indicated at 46, which includes an outer sleeve14 of a construction substantially identical with the construction ofthe outer sleeve 14 previously described. Rather than including twoother major components as was the case with respect to the femalefitting 10, the male fitting 46 includes only one other major component,namely an inner tubular member 48. The inner tubular member 48 isconstructed of a material and with a configuration substantiallyidentical with that of the inner tubular member 16, except for the fifthouter peripheral portion. As shown in FIG- URE 3, the fifth outerperipheral portion of the inner tubular member 48 is formed by aconventional exterior screw thread 50 which is of a diameter size toco-act with the threads 44, thus providing a radial surface 52 whichdefines with the surfaces 36 and 38 an annular groove which receives theflange 20 of the outer sleeve 14.

Except for the initial requirement of engaging the fitting sleeve 18 onthe outer tubular member 16, the manner in which both the female fitting10 and the male fitting 46 are secured to the hose end in accordancewith the principles of the present invention is identical, so that adescription of one will suflice to give a clear understanding of both.

Method and operation Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 1 and4-6, the securement of the fitting 10 to the hose end is preferablyaccomplished through the use of suitable equipment. For example, asshown, such equipment may include a pair of jaws 54 mounted for movementtoward and away from each other between a hose-receiving position and ahose-engaging position. When the jaws are in the latter position, theyinclude an inwardly spaced annular surface 56 of a diameter sizesomewhat less than the outer diameter size of the hose, so as to firmlygrip the same and hold it against inward movement. Formed adjacent theouter end of the surface 56 is an annular abutment surface 58 whichextends radially outwardly therefrom. The outer end of the abutmentsurface 58 merges with the inner end of an outer annular surface 60 of adiameter size greater than the exterior peripheral diameter size of theouter sleeve 14.

The aforesaid equipment may also include a plunger member 62 which ismounted for movement toward and away from the jaws 54 in axial alignmentwith the annular surfaces 56 and 60. As shown, the plunger memberincludes a main body portion of a diameter size to engage within thefitting sleeve 18 and an outer pin portion 64 of a diameter size toengage within the passage 28 of the inner tubular member 16 and whichdefines with the main body portion an annular abutment shoulder 66 forengaging the end of the inner tubular member opposite from the taperingsurface 30.

It will be understood that prior to the actual securing operation, outersleeve 14 is engaged over the end of the hose 12 until the flange 20 isin abutting relation to the outer extremity of the hose. The jaws 54 arethen closed onto the hose, so as to grip the same with the inner end ofthe outer sleeve 14 in engagement with the abutment surface 58. Theinner tubular member 16 is engaged over the pin portion 64 until the endthereof engages the abutment surface 66. With the component parts of thefitting 10 initially positioned as indicated above and shown in FIGURE1, a relative axial movement between the jaws 54 and the plunger 62 iseffected in a direction to engage the inner tubular member 10 within theadjacent end of the hose and the outer sleeve 14 engaged thereover.

As best shown in FIGURE 1, it will be noted that, since the minordiameter size of the frusto-conical surface 30 is less than the interiordiameter size of the hose 12, the leading end of the inner tubularmember will readily engage within the outer extremity of the hose.Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that as theinner tubular member 16 moves inwardly, the hose end will beprogressively expanded radially outwardly so that the outer periphery ofthe hose expands into conformed engagement with the irregular surface onthe interior of the outer sleeve 14. Continued inward movement of thetubular member 16 with respect to the hose end and the outer sleeve 14engaged therein will serve to bring the irregular surface defined by theridges 32 into engagement with the interior surface of the hose While atthe same time maintaining the contiguous outer periphery of the hose,which has been progressively expanded by the surface 30, into expandedrelation to the interior irregular surface of the outer sleeve member.

It will be noted that because of the sawtooth-like configuration of theirregular surfaces provided both by the ridge 22 and ridges 32, theinward movement of the tubular member 16 with respect to the hose isfacilitated while the outward movement is specifically prevented andconversely, outward movement of the hose from the sleeve is effectivelyprevented. Continued inward movement of the tubular member 16 from theposition shown in FIG- URE 5 wherein the minor diameter end of thefrustoconical surface 34 is disposed adjacent the flange 20 will causethe frusto-conical surface 34 to engage the flange and to effect aradially outward expansion of the flange 20, as shown in FIGURE 6. Theradial outward expansion is within the elastic limit of the material andhence it is of considerable importance to the present invention that atleast the flange portion of the outer sleeve 14 be of a material whichis capable of a substantial amount of deformation within the elasticlimit of the material. This essential characteristic is clearlydemonstrated by the preferred materials mentioned above. Thus, withcontinued inward movement of the tubular member 16, the flange willengage the large diameter end of the frusto-conical surface and reachits maximum radially outward expansion after which abutment surface 38moves into contiguous relation to the inner surface of the flange. Atthis point the resilience in the material will cause the same to retractwithin the groove defined by the surfaces 36, 38 and 40. The termresilient as herein applied refers to a material of the type previouslymentioned which is capable of a substantial amount of deformation withinthe elastic limit of the material.

It can thus be seen that the final securement of the fitting of thepresent invention is obtained by a resilient retracting action or snapaction of the flange 20 engaging within the groove. With the fittingthus secured there is provided not only an etfective securement of thehose end between the sawtooth-type irregular surfaces provided by theridges 20 and 32 but an effective hydraulic seal to the extremity oredge of the hose end. This seal is of considerable importance whendealing with reinforced hose in which the reinforcing is provided byelongated fibrous strands. If the exposed ends of the strands contiguouswith the extremity of the hose are allowed to become exposed to water orother moisture conditions, the strands through a wicking or capillaryaction tend to absorb such water or moisture, and to lose theireffectiveness over a relatively short period of use. The sealing of theextremity of the hose end prevents this action from taking place.

It will also be understood that while the method of securement of thepresent fitting has been disclosed in conjunction with specialequipment, that it would be possible to effect this securement withconventional manual tools. In any event, the equipment required is verysimple and inexpensive and does not embody the intricate and moreexpensive mechanisms which are involved in effecting a direct radiallyoutward expansion of an inner member or the direct radially inwardcompression of an outer member. Of primary significance, however, is thefact that the enitre coupling can be made of relatively inexpensivemolded plastic components which provide a greater corrosive resistancethan metallic materials while at the same time giving a more pleasingappearance.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fullyand effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that theforegoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for thepurpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subjectto extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore,this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spiritand scope of the following claims.

It is claimed:

1. A method of securing to the end of a hose a fitting of the typeincluding an outer sleeve having an inwardly extending annular flange atone end and an inner tubular member having an exterior recess forreceiving said flange which comprises the steps of engaging said sleeveover the hose end, effecting a relative rectilinear movement between thehose end with said sleeve engaged thereover and said member in adirection to engage said member within said hose end to expand the hoseoutwardly into pressure tight engagement with said sleeve until saidflange is disposed in spaced relation to said recess, and thencontinuing said relative movement while progressively expanding saidflange outwardly within the elastic limit thereof and then allowing saidflange to contract into said recess.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is engaged overthe hose end with the flange in substantial abutting relation to theextremity of the hose end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,392,085 1/1946 Ferrel.

2,410,600 11/ 1946 Cowles 285-256 2,889,089 6/ 1959 Herrick, et al.

2,947,071 8/ 1960 Marchant 29453 X 2,985,469 5/ 1961 Bowman.

3,129,020 4/ 1964 Bujnowski.

3,165,338 1/1965 Moss 285256 3,217,400 11/1965 Dllesy et al. 29453CHARLIE T. MOON, Primary Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF SECURING TO THE END OF A HOSE A FITTING OF THE TYPEINCLUDING AN OUTER SLEEVE HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING ANNULAR FLANGE ATONE END AND AN INNER TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING AN EXTERIOR RECESS FORRECEIVING SAID FLANGE WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF ENGAGING SAID SLEEVEOVER THE HOSE END, EFFECTING A RELATIVE RECTILINEAR MOVEMENT BETWEEN THEHOSE END WITH SLEEVE ENGAGED THEREOVER AND SAID MEMBER IN A DIRECTION TOENGAGE SAID MEMBER WITHIN SAID HOSE END TO EXPAND THE HOSE OUTWARDLYINTO PRESSURE TIGHT ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SLEEVE UNTIL SAID FLANGE ISDISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID RECESS, AND THEN CONTINUING SAIDRELATIVE MOVEMENT WHILE PROGRESSIVELY EXPANDING SAID FLANGE OUTWARDLYWITHIN THE ELASTIC LIMIT THEREOF AND THEN ALLOWING AND FLANGE TO CONTACTINTO SAID RECESS.